Lely

On-time replacement of teat cup liners ensures optimal robot capacity

The teat cup liner is the interface between the cow and the milking robot. Therefore, it needs to react as sensitively as possible to the teat of the cow. The quality of the teat cup liner has influence on the milking times, the level of milking out, udder health and robot capacity. Unfortunately, not all farmers are aware of the necessity to replace the teat cup liners regularly. The durability of the teat cup liner is dependent on the number of milkings. It is advised to change silicon teat cup liners every 10000 milkings. Rubber teat cup liners should be replaced every 2500 milkings.

Recent research conducted by the UGCN[1] shows that on average 67% of the farmers replace the teat cup liners too late. As a result, the risk on transmission of pathogens increases, the milk process takes longer (10% postponement), the udder contains more rest milk and robot capacity is limited. The liner loses its elasticity and becomes longer and wider. This negatively affects the milking process, the cleaning process and leads to more udder health problems. In addition, teat condition reflects the impact of mechanical forces on the teat during robotic milking. Optimal teat condition is important for udder health: too much teat-end callosity or teat swelling will increase the probability of mastitis.

Besides regular, on-time changing of the teat cup liners, also the procedure to replace the teat cup liners is important. Please refer to the video for an example.

Procedure to replace the teat cup liners

Preparation

• Take the milking robot out of operation with the X-link
• Move the robot arm to the service position (Tab Test – Test menu – Robot arm)
• Select Tab [Test], [Test menu], [Mothership], [Cups]
• In the field Tilt cups, select: LF [Straight], LR [Straight], RF [Straight], RR [Straight]
• In the field Cord cups, select: LF [Loose], LR [Loose], RF [Loose], RR [Loose]

Removal

Carry out the steps in this sub-section for all four teat cup liners.

• Turn the teat cup sleeve counterclockwise until you can remove it from the milk collector (fig. 1)
• Make sure the milk collector cup is clean. If necessary, clean the milk collector cup
• Pull the teat cup liner at the upper side to remove it from the teat cup sleeve (fig. 1)

Figure 1: Removal of the teat cup liner

• Rub the lower part of the teat cup liner and the teat cup sleeve in with soapy water
• Do not turn the installation tool when you push the teat cup liner in the teat cup sleeve
• Use the teat cup liner installation tool to push the lower part of the liner in the teat cup sleeve (fig. 3)
• Make sure the bottom of the teat liner (2, fig. 3) engages correctly in the bottom of the teat cup sleeve
• Examine the O-ring of the teat cup sleeve for damage

• Lubricate the thread and O-ring of the teat cups with Vaseline
• Install the teat cups in the milk collectors and turn them clockwise while holding the milk collector into place
• In the field Cord cups, select: LF [Fixed], LR [Fixed], RF [Fixed], RR [Fixed]